Can body expanding and flanging apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for flanging and expanding a can body, which may be provided in a multi-station machine, including an axial core upon which are mounted three boot members. Two of the boot members, which are relatively short in length, may be pressurized simultaneously to form a flange at either or both ends of the can body by forcing the can body against the wall of a die. The third boot, situated between the flanging boots, may be similarly expanded by hydraulic pressure to reshape the central portion of the can body between necks thus formed intermediate the flanges and the central portion.

United States Patent Blutt et al.

CAN BODY EXPANDING AND FLANGING APPARATUS Inventors: John Robert Blutt,Melrose; Andrew Cecil Harvey, Boston, both of Mass.

Assignee: Vermont Marble Company, Proctor,

Filed: Jan. 14, 1972 Appl. No.: 217,874

10/1966 Parilla 72/63 12/1965 Brejcha et al- 72/63 3,051,112 8/1962 VanLeer et al 72/63 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,014,007 12/1965 GreatBritain 72/63 Primary Examine r-Richard J. Herbst Att0mey--George FredSmyth et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for flanging and expanding a can body, which maybe provided in a multi-station machine, including an axial core uponwhich are mounted three boot members. Two of the boot members, which arerelatively short in length, may be pressurized simultaneously to form aflange at either or both ends of the can body by forcing the can bodyagainst the wall of a die. The third boot, situated between the flangingboots, may be similarly expanded by hydraulic pressure to reshape thecentral portion of the can body between necks thus formed intermediatethe flanges and the central portion.

18 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented Sept. 11, 1973 p 3,757,555

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ///J 51 H 49 4 i Patented Sept. 11, 1973 4 Sheets-SheetNH. 5 ///////////////////////////////7 vz R NV J m U WENv7ha?////////%///////%/////////////////// Mm mm CAN BODY EXPANDING ANDFLANGING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates to a device for flanging and expanding can bodies in a singleoperation.

In the field of can body making, a constant effort is being exerted todevelop can bodies utilizing a minimum amount of material per cancapacity. In a marketplace in which many billions of cans aremanufactured and sold each year, the reduction of material utilized ineach can, even by a very small amount, can yield substantial savings.Consequently, a wide variety of measures have been introduced in orderto accomplish such results.

Since the goal in can body making is to reduce the amount of materialused, can body manufacturers would prefer to form body blanks fromsheets which are as thin as possible. However, it has not been feasibleto use sheets which are too thin because such sheets are difficult tohandle and are subject to pinhole defects, the can bodies made from themare relatively flexible and difficult to transport, fill, etc.

One measure proposed for reducing can body material has been the conceptof expanding a can body of one size in order to form a can body of alarger size. Thus, the larger sized can body can be produced using lessmaterial than if expansion were not accomplished. A number of differentmethods have been developed for accomplishing such expansion includinghydraulic and explosive forming.

In the present manufacture of can bodies, a flange is formed at each endof the can in order to. receive a can end so that the contained volumemay be sealed off until the can is opened by the consumer. At present,the end-receiving flanges are formed as one step of the can formingprocess.

In U. S. application Ser. No. 884,299 of Brawner et al., filed Dec. ll,1969 and entitled CAN BODIES AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANU- FACTURETHEREOF, now US. Pat. No. 3,698,337, a process and apparatus has beendisclosed which may be utilized to expand and flange a can body in asingle operation. With such a device and process, a can body can bemanufactured utilizing a smaller quantity of material for a given sizedproduct but only a single stage or operation is required for bothflanging and expansion. Further, that invention results in a larger canbody using only that material normally required for a smaller body,while allowing the same size can ends normally used with the smallerbody to be used with the larger one. Thus, a second savings is availablesince the material in the can end used with the larger body is reduced."

Testing has shown that the Brawner et al. mandrel must be welllubricated to consistently produce satisfactorily flanged and expandedcan bodies. This requirement results from the fact that the mandrel andcan body move axially relative to one another in frictional contactduring the axial compression of the mandrel. However, since some of thelubricant will remain on the body wall, the expanded bodies must besubjected to an otherwise unnecessary step of washing in order to removeit so that it will not contaminate the cans contents.

On the other hand, if the mandrel is not lubricated, the axiallysqueezed mandrel may drag the can body along with it, producing wrinkledcan bodies and torn or substandard flanges. Additionally, the use of theaxially squeezed mandrel often results in axial shrinkage of the canbody as the expansion thereof occurs from one end of the body toward theother. Quite obviously, this can reduce the amount of savings which canbe obtained by means of such mandrels.

Further, axial compression of the mandrel generates internal shearingstrains which may reduce the cyclic life of the mandrel, therebyincreasing replacement costs thereof.

Therefore, it has become desirable, in order to achieve the resultsdesired by the industry, to develop a new apparatus for expanding andflanging can bodies in a single operation which can be utilized so as toexpand the can bodies coming from the body maker at a rate which issubstantially equal to that at which cans are manufactured by the bodymaker.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device whichmay be utilized to expand and flange can bodies in a single operation.More specifically, the invention relates to a mandrel which may beinserted into a can body which, in turn, is positioned within a die.

The device may be utilized with either a can open at both ends or onewhich is closed at one end, such as those cans formed by a drawingprocess. In either case, the die is provided with a flange-receivingrecess adjacent the can end or ends to be flanged. A neck-formingstructure is located adjacent each recess so as to be in relativelyclose contact with the can body. In the usual case, the can body will bein contact with the neckforming structure so that expansion or change insize of the can body is prevented in that area, thereby forming a neckadjacent each flange. The portion of the can body which is centrallylocated between the necks may be expanded to enlarge the containedvolume, i.e., forming an enlarged can body.

Although the mandrel may be formed in a variety of ways, it has beenfound that one preferred embodiment comprises a metal axial core uponwhich are mounted a plurality of ring-like elastomeric boots whichextend about the periphery of the core and may be expanded against theinner wall of the can body. One such boot may be located adjacent eachend of a can body which is to be flanged and is properly positionedrelative thereto to accomplish such flanging without otherwise alteringthe body configuration. A relatively longer boot may be aligned with thecentral portion of the can body which is to be expanded. The core of themandrel may be provided with a plurality of hydraulic passages so thatpressurization of the boots mounted on the core can be selectivelyaccomplished.

As stated previously, an important goal in the formation of can bodiesis the utilization of a minimum amount of material for a can having agiven capacity. In order to accomplish this result with the presentinvention, testing has shown that expansion of the can body prior to theformation of the flanges thereon may cause a reduction in the length ofthe can body greater than that which will occur if the flange or flangesare formed before the can body is expanded. Thus, in utilizing thepresent invention, the boots which are located opposite theflange-forming sections of the die may be actuated before the boot whichexpands the central portion of the can body, if desired. As a result,

greater stretching of the can body can occur intermediate the necksformed adjacent the flanges. This results because the flanging bootswill tend to hold the ends of the can in place and substantially reducethe possibility of axial shrinkage of the can when the central portionis expanded.

Testing and analysis have revealed that the use of the present inventionwill allow significant reductions in the amount of material which mustbe utilized in the formation of a can body. Although the percentagereduction will vary in accordance with the size of the particularfinished product, it has been found that one commonly available can sizemay be produced with a material savings of approximately percent in thebody alone. Thus even more savings are available due to the smaller canends which may be used with the enlarged cans.

In accordance with the present invention, the various boots mounted onthe mandrel may be radially expanded by any suitable force which may beexerted on the internal surface thereof and transmitted through theboots so as to act on the wall of a can body fitted over the mandrel andwithin the die. In the illustrated, exemplary embodiment, the centralcore of the mandrel is provided with a plurality of passages whichtransmit a fluid under pressure against the internal surfaces of theboots for radial expansion thereof. Although any fluid, including gases,can be utilized for this purpose, in many instances the use of anincompressible hydraulic fluid will be preferable since pressure can betransmitted therethrough without requiring a great deal of fluid flow.

Since the boots may be radially expanded, rather than axiallycompressed, only a small percentage of stretch of the boots is requiredFurther, there is little or no friction between the boots and the innersurface of the can body wall. Thus, no lubrication of the mandrel isrequired and the can body need not be subjected to an extra washingafter the expansion is completed. Of course, the boots which produce theflanging at the ends of the can body are subjected to some distortionand localized friction as they turn the ends of the can body radiallyoutward to form the flanges. However, the distortion and friction may beso localized as to be relatively minimal and have little or no effect onmandrel cyclic life.

The flange-forming boots may be provided with grooves or recesses, inthe manner taught by the above cited Brawner et al. patent, so that thedeformation thereof may be accomplished in such a fashion that nostructural damage to the boots will occur as a result of the flangingoperation. Further, selection of a suitable clastomeric substance fromwhich the boots are manufacturcd will allow the mandrel to bereconditioned by melting away the elastomer. The latter may then bereplaced by a newly formed boot or set of boots, thereby greatlyreducing the cost of mandrel maintenance. Thus, the present inventionresults in a device for expanding can bodies and flanging them in asingle step or operation which produces significant advantages in costsavings in the can body materials utilized and thus, in the mannerdescribed in the above cited Brawner et al. application, in the shippingand storage of such cans.

The full extent of the concepts of the present invention, as well asfurther objects and advantages thereof, will become more clearlyapparent to those skilled in the art upon perusal of the followingdetailed description which refers to the accompanying drawings. Thatdescription and the drawings illustrate one embodiment in the presentinvention which, it is believed, comprises the best mode contemplatedfor carrying out the invention. It will also be realized by thoseskilled in the art, of course, that a wide variety of distinctiveembodiments may also be devised within the scope of the presentinvention; thus, the latter should not be considered to be limited tothe specific details of the illustrated embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I comprises a side view, partlyin section, of an apparatus which may be utilized to carry out theexpansion and flanging of a can body in a single operation;

FIG. 2 comprises an end view of the device shown in FIG. I, as seen fromthe left end thereof, with certain parts broken away for clarity;

FIG. 3 comprises a partial, sectional illustration of one embodiment ofa mandrel which may be utilized in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 comprises a sectional illustration of one embodiment of a diestructure which may be utilized with a flanging and expansion mandrelsuch as that illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial view of the die shown in FIG. 4, as

' seen at a circular section V thereof, showing the position of variousportions of the mandrel shown in FIGv 3 relative thereto prior to thestep of flanging and expanding the can;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, illustrating the position of thevarious structural elements after the flange has been formed; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a multi-station machine which may be utilized inaccordance with the present invention to flange and expand can bodies ata relatively high rate of production.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now more specifically to FIG. 1, there isgenerally illustrated at 11 a machine which may be utilized to flangeand expand can bodies in a single operation in accordance with thepresent invention. The illustrated embodiment is presently considered tobe the best mode for accomplishing the invention, but it will berealized that a wide variety of different modes could also be utilized.As illustrated, the machine 11 comprises a plurality of structural framemembers including a front wall 13 and a rear wall 15 which may besuitably connected to one another in a rigid fashion by elements such asthose illustrated at 17 and 19. As seen from the front of the machine inFIG. 2, a plurality of generally cylindrical can bodies may be fed intothe machine by any suitable means such as a chute 21. At the bottom ofthe chute, a device may be provided to hold the cans back against theforce of gravity, such as a collapsibie detent 23.

At the opposite side of the machine, a second chute 25 may be providedfor the removal of the flanged and expanded can bodies. In other words,suitable structure is provided for the delivery and removal of theworkpiece and product, respectively, from the machine.

Any suitable apparatus may be provided to transfer the can bodies fromthe delivery device to the expanding and flanging structure and from thelatter to the removal device. In the illustrated embodiment, this feedmechanism may include a carrier 27 upon which are fixedly mounted twoconveyor pins 29 and 31 (FIG. 2). The conveyor pins may be oriented soas to be substantially parallel to the axes of the can bodies in thechutes 21 and 25.

As shown in FIG. 1, suitable means may be provided for moving the pins29 and 31 into and out of the machine 11. For example, as shown, thecarrier 27 may be suspended from a suitable support structure 33suspended from the front wall 13. In turn, the carrier 27 may be used tosupport a suitable hydraulic cylinder 35 having a piston rod 37 which,via a link 39, axially motivates a shaft 41 upon which the conveyor pin29 is mounted. Axial movement of the shaft 41 may be controlled by apair of bearings 43 fixedly mounted on the carrier 27.

The link 39 may similarly control the movement of a shaft 45 (FIG. 2)upon which the conveyor pin 31 is mounted so that the conveyor pins willmove axially simultaneously.

In the exemplary embodiment, in order to allow the conveyor pins 29 and31 to also be moved in a direction perpendicular to their axes, thecarrier 27 may be mounted on the support 33 by means of a pair ofparallel rods 47 and 49 which extend through bearings 51 fixedlyattached to the carrier. A hydraulic pistoncylinder system 53 (FIG. 1)similar to 35, 37-may be provided to act between the structure 33 andthe carrier 27 to move the carrier and the conveyor pins toward and awayfrom the viewer, as seen in FIG. 1, i.e., to the right and left as seenin FIG. 2.

A first relatively thin, semicircular die section 57 may be fixedlymounted on the inside of the front frame wall 13 and a complementarysemicircular die section 59 may be vertically movably mounted on theframe wall 13 by any suitable structure such as a piston-cylinder system61. In other words, one of the die elements may be substantially fixedin position and the opposite die element may be selectively movedthereagainst in proper alignment so as to form a complete die having asectional configuration such as that illustrated at 63 in FIG. 1. Ofcourse, either or both of the die sections may be moved as long as thecan bodies may be completely seated therebetween.

Although any system can be utilized to accomplish the followingdescribed relative motion, in the illustrated embodiment a sub-framemember 65, suitably mounted on the frame element 19 in slidingrelationship relative thereto, may be moved to the left and right asseen in FIG. 1 by any suitable device such as a piston-cylinder system67. Thus, when the die elements 57 and 59 are closed, a die restrainingtube 69 may be moved from the position illustrated in FIG. 1 toward theleft so as to completely capture the closed die elements therein. Amandrel 71, mounted in concentric relationship with the die restrainingtube 69 and with the closed die elements 57 and 59, may also be movedwith the sub-frame 65.

The mandrel may be actuated for radial expansion of portions thereof bythe imposition of hydraulic pressure through lines 73 and 75 by anydesired means (not shown) to accomplish fianging and expansion of a canbody in a manner to be described.

Realizing that any desired feed and product removal system could beutilized to accomplish the desired results, the illustrated structuremay be operated as follows, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 together. Whencans are inserted into the chute 21, the axial movement cylinder isactuated to draw the conveyor pins 29 and 31 away from the positionillustrated in FIG. 1, i.e., toward the outside of the from frame wall13. The transverse movement cylinder 53 may then be actuated to drivethe carrier 27 toward the right as seen in FIG. 2 until the pin 29 isaligned with the can A in the chute 21. Axial cylinder 35 may then beactuated in the opposite direction and thus drive the conveyor pin 29into the can A; transverse cylinder 53 may then be operated in theopposite direction to return the carrier 27 to the position of FIG. 2,can A thus being pulled past the removable or depressible detent 23 andcan B then falling against the detent.

When this has been accomplished, die closing cylinder 61 may then beactuated to drive the die section 59 into abutment with the die section57 or, in other words, to close the die about the can body. Theprovision of a suitable abutment structure 77 on the conveyor pin 29will ensure that the can body A is properly aligned with the ends of theinternal die configuration 63.

As shown in FIG. 1, as the die section 59 is raised, it will lift thecan body off of the conveyor pin 29 and force it up into the upper diesection 57. When that operation has been completed, the axial cylinder35 may again be actuated to withdraw the conveyor pins from between theframe walls 13 and 15 and the transverse cylinder 53 may subsequently beactuated to drive the carrier toward the right, as seen in FIG. 2,thereby placing pins 31 and 29 in the proper locations to pick up thereformed can A and next can B, respectively, later. Substantiallysimultaneously with these last two steps, the upper cylinder 67 may beactuated to drive the die retaining tube 69 and mandrel 71 toward theleft, as seen in FIG. 1, so that the ab'utted die sections 57 and 59 arecaptured within the tube and the mandrel 71 is positioned within the canbody A. The mandrel may then be actuated, in a manner to be described,causing the can body A to be provided with flanges on the ends thereofand an expanded central portion.

When the expansion and fianging have been completed, the upper cylinder67 may be actuated in the opposite direction to withdraw the mandrel anddie retaining tube to the positions illustrated in FIG. 1. Then theaxial cylinder 35 may be'actuated to drive the conveyor pins into themachine. Conveyor pin 29 will thus be driven into the can B which hasfallen against the detent-23 and conveyor pin 31 will be driven into thereformed can body A. The cylinder 61 may then be actuated to withdrawthe movable die element 59 to the illustrated position and, as it iswithdrawn, the reformed can body will be deposited on the conveyor pin31.

When the transverse cylinder 53 is then actuated, as previouslydescribed, to move the carrier 27 to the position illustrated in FIG. 2,can B will thus be located between the open die sections and the newlyreformed can A will be positioned at the opening of the chute 25. As thecylinder 35 is again actuated to withdraw the conveyor pins from themachine as described above, the reformed can A will contact a suitablestripper abutment 79 which will cause the can to be removed from the pin31 and deposited within the chute 25.

Thus, one suitable system has been illustrated for conveying can bodieshaving a tubular configuration to a reforming structure and thenremoving the reformed can bodies. The structure heretofore described isconsidered to be illustrative only and it will be realized by thoseskilled in the art that a nearly infinite variety of such feed andremoval systems could be utilized without in any way altering thedesired results.

It will also be noted by those skilled in the art that, since in manycases newly manufactured can bodies have an oval configuration indiametral cross section, as they are captured between the die elementsthey will be forced into a substantially cylindrical configuration andthe flanging and expansion of the can body, resulting in necks formedbetween the flanges and the expanded portion, will provide a strength tothe can body which will thereafter prevent its returning to anoncylindrical configuration. Thus, even as the present invention isreducing the thickness of the can body wall due to expansion, as will bedescribed hereafter, it is also providing the can body with astrengthened structure which is not found in presently available cans.

Referring now to FIG. 3, one embodiment of a mandrel 71 which may beutilized in accordance with the present invention has been illustratedin partial cross section. This exemplary mandrel is shown to comprise acentral or axial core 81 which may be formed of a relatively strong andinflexible material such as stainless steel, etc. A peripheral recess 83may be formed adjacent either or both ends of the core and a centrallylocated recess 85, which may, if desired, be substantially larger thaneither of the recesses 83, may be formed at an intermediate section ofthe core. The recesses 83 and 85 are separated by rings or collars 87which, if desired, may be formed integral with the core 81.

In each of the recesses 83, a plurality of fluidreceiving grooves 89 maybe formed in communication with one or more fluid passages 91 extendingthrough the core 81 parallel to the axis thereof via one or more radialpassages 93. Thus, when fluid is passed through the hose or tubev73, it.will flow through the passage 91 to the radial passages 93 and fromthere into the peripheral grooves 89. An elastomeric ring or boot 95 maybe molded into each of the recesses 83 and bonded to the surfacesthereof in any well-known manner to prevent fluid leakage. Thus, whenfluid pressure is exerted against the inner peripheries of the boots 95,the elastomeric material will expand radially in a manner to bedescribed.

Similarly, the inner periphery of the recess 85 may be provided with aplurality of fluid-receiving grooves 96 which are in communication withone or more fluid passages 97 via one or more radial passages 99. Asimilar elastomeric boot 101 may be molded into the recess 85 so as tobe bonded to the surfaces thereof. Thus, when fluid pressure is exertedin the line 75, it is transmitted through the passages 97 and 99 to theinner periphery of the boot 101, causing radial expansion thereof for apurpose to be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the die sections 57 and 59 may be suitably shaped soas to provide a contiguous inner configuration 63. Such a configurationmay include a flange-receiving section 103, a neck forming structure 105at either or both ends thereof, and a somewhat centrally locatedexpansion section 107.

As shown in FIG. 5, when a can body A is installed within the closed diesections and the mandrel 71 is positioned within the can body, the bodymay be in abutment with a shoulder 109 in the flange-receiving recessI03 in the sections 57 and 59. At the same time, a recess III in theboot 95 may be in substantial alignment with the shoulder, as shown. Theadjacent collar 87 may be located substantially in opposed relationshipto the neck forming structure 105 and the boot 101 will be in opposedrelationship to the central expansion section 107.

Pressure exerted through the fluid in line 73, passages 91 and 93, andrecesses 89 against the inner surface of the boot will cause the latterto expand radially from the position shown in FIG. 5 to that shown inFIG. 6, thereby forming the flange 113 on the end of the can body A inthe flange-receiving recess 103 of the die. Similarly, the exertion ofpressure through the fluid in line 75, passages 97 and 99, and grooves96 will cause the central boot 101 to expand and force the can body Aagainst the expansion recess 107 of the die. It is important to notethat the provision of distinct boots for the formation of the flangesand the central body portion, and the distinct fluid pressurizationsystems therefor, allow different pressures to be exerted on theflanging boots 95 and the central expansion boots 101. In other words,in some cases, it will be necessary to exert a greater force on theflanging boots than on the central expansion boot, and vice versa. Theprovision of the distinct fluid systems will allow this to beaccomplished, if desired.

Although the steps involved in expanding the boots 95 and 101 may occurnearly simultaneously, it has been found that in many instances it ispreferable to expand the flange-forming boots 95 first and maintain themin the expanded condition when the central boot 101 is being expanded.This sequence will allow the flanges to be formed at the ends of the canand then held in position as the central portion is expanded between thenecks; the can body may thus be reformed with a lesser amount ofshortening thereof than might occur if the central portion were expandedsimultaneously with or before the formation of the flanging.

It should also be noted that the provision of the recesses 111 and theflange-forming boots 95 allow the flanges to be formed in such a waythat the boot does not become worn through contact with the shoulder109. On the other hand, a variety of other devices, such as an easilyreplaceable elastomeric band, could be used in place of recesses 11] toabsorb any wear imparted during use. Several other expedients will nodoubt be evident to those skilled in the art. In any event, it may bepreferable that the boot not get behind the end of the can body as it isturned and thus become torn thereon as it forces the end of the can wallinto the flange-receiving recess 103.

It is also noted that the location of the collars 87 relative to theneek-forming structure may be significant in some cases in that theboots 95 serve to hold a portion of the can body against theneck-forming structure and maintain it in position thereagainst toprevent slipping between the structure 105 and the can body.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 5, and 7, it can be seen that the rings or collars87 may be provided with a triangular cross section so that they arewider near the inner portion of the recess than they are at theperiphery of the mandrel. This configuration allows the boots 101 and 95to be very close to one another at the periphery of the mandrel,permitting different boots to act against very closely adjacent portionsof the cyiinder to be reformed, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Thus, itbecomes very simple to reshape the cylinder A from the position of FIG.5 to that of FIG. 6 since a different pressure can be exerted on eachboot without requiring the movement of large quantities of fluid. As aresult, the pressure exerted on the boots can be impulse-like in speed,thereby allowing more cylinders to be reformed within a given time.

Further, since the boot 101 may be bonded to the collars 87, there is nopossibility that the fluid which expands the boot will leak between theboot and the collar and contaminate the interior of the can. In thismanner, relatively long boots may be positioned on the mandrel withoutrequiring complex hardware to fasten it thereto. Of course, the boots 95may be similarly bonded at either end thereof for the same purpose,i.e., prevention of can body contamination by the hydraulic fluid.

As is now known, the recess 107 of the die configura tion 63 may also beprovided with internal protrusions or external recesses in order toprovide suitable embossing on the can body as they are expanded by theboot 101.

In any event, it is desired that the can body be expanded by anelastomeric or otherwise expandable device which is subjected only tosubstantially radially directed forces rather than axial compression.Such a force limitation will substantially eliminate any frictionbrought about by relative axial movement between the boots and the canbody, thereby eliminating the need for lubrication of the mandrel. Asstated previously, if the mandrel does not have to be lubricated, therequirement for an extra washing of the can body after expansion iseliminated since no contaminants will be deposited upon the innersurface thereof. Further, the radial expansion of the boots willsignificantly reduce the possibility of internal shear strain generationwithin the boots which could significantly reduce the life of themandrel.

Although any suitable material may be selected for construction of theexpandable boots or rings, it may be preferable to construct them from amaterial which may easily be bonded to the core 81 and may also easilybe removed therefrom by a suitable process, such as melting throughheating. Construction of the boots in this manner will allow the mandrelto be repaired and refurbished through a relatively inexpensive process,allowing the core 81 to be used over an indefinite length of time.

Referring again to the collars 87, it will be realized by those skilledin the art that such collars or flanges can be of any desired crosssectional configuration but have been illustrated as shown so as toprovide a very narrow band, as seen at FIG. 6, of the can body which isnot actually reformed, i.e., that area adjacent the neckformingstructure 105. It will also be realized that if it is desired to imparta distinct configuration to a portion of the central part of the canbody, the portion 107 of the die may be formed with a differentconfiguration, additional collars such as 87 may be formed on the core81, additional boots could be utilized to replace a portion of the boot101 and a distinctive boot pressurization system could be providedwithin the mandrel core. in other words, a portion of the boot 101 couldbe replaced by a distinctive boot, segregated by collars which perform afunction similar to that performed by the collars 87, thereby allowing,for example, a part of the central body portion to be formed with someother configuration, such as a tapered or frusto-conical shape.Consequently, the utilization of the present invention will allow thecan body designer to use his imagination in designing a product whichwill finally be marketed.

Thus, a mandrel and die have been illustrated which may be used toaccomplish the results desired. It should be pointed out that thedescribed structures may be altered quite radically without in any wayavoiding the scope of the invention. For example, a flange might beformed at one end of the can or structure could be provided to producean inwardly rather than outwardly directed flange, etc.

In many instances, it will be desired to provide a multi-station machinefor accomplishing the expansion and flanging of can bodies, so that thecan bodies can be reformed at a rate which is substantially identical tothat at which they are manufactured by a body maker. As shown in FIG. 7,newly manufactured can bodies A may be driven down a chute 201 by anysuitable means such as by gravity or by a convoluted strip' 203 whichmay be rotated about its axis by any suitable means (not shown). As thecan bodies reach a machine 205 they are captured by a pair of rotatablyaligned conveyor wheels 207 which may be driven'by any suitable means(not shown) mounted within a housing 209.

Aseach can body is rotated by the conveyor wheels 207, it is lifted to aposition B at which it may be captured between relatively movablesections 257 and 259 of a die structure. A plurality of such diestructures are mounted so as to move toward and away from one anotherbetween a pair of rotating wheels 261 and 263. Suitable structure mayalso be provided to drive the engaged die sections into axially aligneddie retaining tubes 269, in each of which a mandrel (not shown), perhapsof the type previously described, may be mounted. As the wheels 261 and263 are rotated, each I mandrel may be actuated in the manner previouslydescribed, after which each pair of die elements may be withdrawn fromits respective tube 269 and be separated, thereby allowing the can to bedelivered to a removal chute 225. In other words, with structure of thistype, a plurality of cans can be acted upon simultaneously, each at aslightly different stage of the operation at any given moment, therebygreatly increasing the speed at which they may be reformed, as comparedto the machine illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Although the above-described devices have been illustrated and describedas being utilized for the provision of a flange on both ends of a can,it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the structure couldalso be utilized, if desired, to provide a flange on only one end ofacan body as, for example, the case of a can formed with an integralbottom through a drawing process.

Thus the applicants have disclosed apparatus for reforming can bodies soas to provide a flange, neck, and centrally expanded portion by means ofsubstantially radially directed forces. As a result, such can bodies canbe economically produced in such a way as to result in substantialsavings in the manufacture and handling of cans. Although a singleembodiment of a mandrel which may be utilized to accomplish the desiredresult has been illustrated and described, it will be realized by thoseskilled in the art that many other such devices, which are within thescope of the invention as defined only by the following claims, can beconstructed and used.

Therefore, whatis claimed as the invention is:

1. Apparatus for reforming a substantially cylindrical body comprising amandrel having a plurality of recesses formed about the peripherythereof, each provided with a plurality of fluid pressure transmissiongrooves on the internal surface thereof, means for axially separatingadjacent recesses of said plurality of recesses from one another havinga first, relatively narrow dimension adjacent the outer peripherythereof, a second, relatively larger dimension adjacent the internalsurfaces of said recesses, and substantially straight-line surfacesextending from the outer periphery of said separating means to theinternal surface of said recesses, an elastomeric-like boot located ineach such recess and bonded to the end surfaces thereof, and means forcommunicating said fluid pressure transmission grooves with a source offluid pressure. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of said recessesextends along a major portion of the axial dimension of said mandrel andsaid communicating means comprises first means for communicating fluidpressure to said grooves in said one recess and second means forcommunicating fluid pressure to said grooves in the others of saidrecesses. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 including die means for receivingsaid mandrel with the cylindrical body in coaxial and intermediaterelation to said die means and said mandrel, and including distinctconfigurations on the internal surface thereof against which distinctportions of the cylindrical body may be actuated and thus reformed bysaid relatively flexible expandable members when the latter are actuatedby their respective actuating forces. 4. The apparatus of claim 1including die means for receiving said mandrel with the cylindrical bodyin coaxial and intermediate relation to said die means and said mandrel,means for delivering a cylindrical body into said die means so as to bereformed therein, and means for inserting said mandrel within thecylindrical body in coaxial relationship with said die means. 5. Theapparatus of claim 4 including means for removing the cylindrical bodyfrom said die means after it has been reformed therein by actuation ofsaid relatively flexible expandable member. 6. The apparatus of claim 4including a plurality of such mandrels and dies and means for conveyingcylindrical bodies to said plurality of mandrels and dies in such amanner as to reform a plurality of cylindrical bodies simultaneously. 7.Apparatus for reforming cylindrical bodies comprising a mandrel having aplurality of distinct recesses formed about the periphery thereof, anelastomeric-like boot mounted in each such recess,

means separating said recesses from one another so as to form arelatively narrow band on the periphery of said mandrel between at leasttwo of the adjacent boots, and

means for exerting a radial expansion force on each of said boots tocause said boots to expand radially beyond the normal periphery of saidmandrel,

a plurality of cooperating die members in which said mandrel ispositioned in coaxial relationship with a cylindrical body installedtherein and having an internal configuration formed by positioning saiddie members in cooperating relationship, and

tubular means operatively associated with said mandrel and saidplurality of die members which receives said die members in coaxialrelationship rel ative thereto to limit relative radial movement thereofduring radial expansion of said boots.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said force exerting means comprisesat least two separate force transmission means,

each acting to transmit force to at least one of said boots, wherebysaid boots may be radially expanded in a predetermined sequence and bypredetermined forces.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 including die means in which said mandrei ispositioned in coaxial relationship with a cylindrical body installedtherein,

means for properly positioning the cylindrical body relative to saidmandrel and said die means,

said die means having a flange-receiving portion located thereinadjacent at least one end of a cylindrical body properly positionedtherein,

a neck-forming portion located therein adjacent said at least oneflange-receiving portion, and at least one central body expansionportion therein extending from said neck-forming portion toward theopposite end of said die.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said mandrel includes a first oneof said boots located thereon so that,

upon expansion thereof, it forces at least one end of the cylindricalbody into said flange-receiving portion.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first one of said boots is solocated thereon that, upon expansion thereof, it forces that portion ofthe cylindrical body adjacent the flange thus formed into contact withsaid neck-forming portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said mandrel includes at least oneof said boots located thereon so that,

upon expansion thereof, it forces at least one section of thecylindrical body against at least a part of said at least one centralbody expansion portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said at least one of said boots isso located thereon that, upon expansion thereof, it forces at least apart of the cylindrical body against at least a part of saidneck-forming portion.

14. Apparatus for reforming a substantially cylindrical body comprisinga mandrel having a plurality of recesses formed about the peripherythereof, an expandable boot having its axial ends bonded into each suchrecess, and means to which said boots are bonded for separating adjacentrecesses, one of said boots extending along a major axial dimension ofsaid mandrel, and means for providing fluid pressure on the internalportion of said boots for radial expansion thereof intermediate the endsthereof. 15. The apparatus of claim 14 including a plurality ofcooperating die members in which said mandrel is positioned in coaxialrelationship with a cylindrical body installed therein and having aninternal configuration formed by positioning said die members incooperating relationship, and tubular means operatively associated withsaid mandrel and said plurality of die members which receives said diemembers in coaxial relationship relative thereto to limit relativeradial movement thereof during radial expansion of said boots. 16. Amachine for reforming a substantially cylindrical body comprising a baseframe, a pair of opposed die members mounted on said frame for movementrelative to one another, means for producing relative movement betweensaid die members means for locating a body to be reformed between saiddie members, an expandable mandrel insertable between said die members,tubular means surrounding said mandrel and fixed relative thereto, intowhich said die members are relatively insertable, for prohibitingrelative movement between said die members as said mandrel is beingexpanded, and means for axially moving said die members relative to saidmandrel and said tubular means to locate said mandrel within said diemembers and to locate said die members within said tubular means. 17.The machine of claim 16 wherein said die members include mating internalsurfaces having a neck-forming means adjacent one end thereof, aflange-forming means intermediate said neck forming means and the saidone end and immediately adjacent said neck-forming means, and a centralexpansion forming means immediately adjacent said neck-forming means andon the opposite side thereof from said neck-forming means. 18. Themachine of claim 17 wherein said mandrel includes a first expandableboot thereon for forcing a body located between said die members andsaid mandrel into said flange-forming means and against saidneck-forming means and a second expandable boot, closely adjacent saidfirst expandable boot at the periphery of said mandrel, for forcing thebody into said central expansion forming means and against saidneckforming means.

1. Apparatus for reforming a substantially cylindrical body comprising amandrel having a plurality of recesses formed about the peripherythereof, each provided with a plurality of fluid pressure transmissiongrooves on the internal surface thereof, means for axially separatingadjacent recesses of said plurality of recesses from one another havinga first, relatively narrow dimension adjacent the outer perIpherythereof, a second, relatively larger dimension adjacent the internalsurfaces of said recesses, and substantially straight-line surfacesextending from the outer periphery of said separating means to theinternal surface of said recesses, an elastomeric-like boot located ineach such recess and bonded to the end surfaces thereof, and means forcommunicating said fluid pressure transmission grooves with a source offluid pressure.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of said recessesextends along a major portion of the axial dimension of said mandrel andsaid communicating means comprises first means for communicating fluidpressure to said grooves in said one recess and second means forcommunicating fluid pressure to said grooves in the others of saidrecesses.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 including die means for receivingsaid mandrel with the cylindrical body in coaxial and intermediaterelation to said die means and said mandrel, and including distinctconfigurations on the internal surface thereof against which distinctportions of the cylindrical body may be actuated and thus reformed bysaid relatively flexible expandable members when the latter are actuatedby their respective actuating forces.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1including die means for receiving said mandrel with the cylindrical bodyin coaxial and intermediate relation to said die means and said mandrel,means for delivering a cylindrical body into said die means so as to bereformed therein, and means for inserting said mandrel within thecylindrical body in coaxial relationship with said die means.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 4 including means for removing the cylindrical bodyfrom said die means after it has been reformed therein by actuation ofsaid relatively flexible expandable member.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4including a plurality of such mandrels and dies and means for conveyingcylindrical bodies to said plurality of mandrels and dies in such amanner as to reform a plurality of cylindrical bodies simultaneously. 7.Apparatus for reforming cylindrical bodies comprising a mandrel having aplurality of distinct recesses formed about the periphery thereof, anelastomeric-like boot mounted in each such recess, means separating saidrecesses from one another so as to form a relatively narrow band on theperiphery of said mandrel between at least two of the adjacent boots,and means for exerting a radial expansion force on each of said boots tocause said boots to expand radially beyond the normal periphery of saidmandrel, a plurality of cooperating die members in which said mandrel ispositioned in coaxial relationship with a cylindrical body installedtherein and having an internal configuration formed by positioning saiddie members in cooperating relationship, and tubular means operativelyassociated with said mandrel and said plurality of die members whichreceives said die members in coaxial relationship relative thereto tolimit relative radial movement thereof during radial expansion of saidboots.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said force exerting meanscomprises at least two separate force transmission means, each acting totransmit force to at least one of said boots, whereby said boots may beradially expanded in a predetermined sequence and by predeterminedforces.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7 including die means in which saidmandrel is positioned in coaxial relationship with a cylindrical bodyinstalled therein, means for properly positioning the cylindrical bodyrelative to said mandrel and said die means, said die means having aflange-receiving portion located therein adjacent at least one end of acylindrical body properly positioned therein, a neck-forming portionlocated therein adjacent said at least one flange-receiving portion, andat least one central body expansion portion thereIn extending from saidneck-forming portion toward the opposite end of said die.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 9 wherein said mandrel includes a first one of saidboots located thereon so that, upon expansion thereof, it forces atleast one end of the cylindrical body into said flange-receivingportion.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first one of saidboots is so located thereon that, upon expansion thereof, it forces thatportion of the cylindrical body adjacent the flange thus formed intocontact with said neck-forming portion.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9wherein said mandrel includes at least one of said boots located thereonso that, upon expansion thereof, it forces at least one section of thecylindrical body against at least a part of said at least one centralbody expansion portion.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said atleast one of said boots is so located thereon that, upon expansionthereof, it forces at least a part of the cylindrical body against atleast a part of said neck-forming portion.
 14. Apparatus for reforming asubstantially cylindrical body comprising a mandrel having a pluralityof recesses formed about the periphery thereof, an expandable boothaving its axial ends bonded into each such recess, and means to whichsaid boots are bonded for separating adjacent recesses, one of saidboots extending along a major axial dimension of said mandrel, and meansfor providing fluid pressure on the internal portion of said boots forradial expansion thereof intermediate the ends thereof.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 14 including a plurality of cooperating die membersin which said mandrel is positioned in coaxial relationship with acylindrical body installed therein and having an internal configurationformed by positioning said die members in cooperating relationship, andtubular means operatively associated with said mandrel and saidplurality of die members which receives said die members in coaxialrelationship relative thereto to limit relative radial movement thereofduring radial expansion of said boots.
 16. A machine for reforming asubstantially cylindrical body comprising a base frame, a pair ofopposed die members mounted on said frame for movement relative to oneanother, means for producing relative movement between said die membersmeans for locating a body to be reformed between said die members, anexpandable mandrel insertable between said die members, tubular meanssurrounding said mandrel and fixed relative thereto, into which said diemembers are relatively insertable, for prohibiting relative movementbetween said die members as said mandrel is being expanded, and meansfor axially moving said die members relative to said mandrel and saidtubular means to locate said mandrel within said die members and tolocate said die members within said tubular means.
 17. The machine ofclaim 16 wherein said die members include mating internal surfaceshaving a neck-forming means adjacent one end thereof, a flange-formingmeans intermediate said neck forming means and the said one end andimmediately adjacent said neck-forming means, and a central expansionforming means immediately adjacent said neck-forming means and on theopposite side thereof from said neck-forming means.
 18. The machine ofclaim 17 wherein said mandrel includes a first expandable boot thereonfor forcing a body located between said die members and said mandrelinto said flange-forming means and against said neck-forming means and asecond expandable boot, closely adjacent said first expandable boot atthe periphery of said mandrel, for forcing the body into said centralexpansion forming means and against said neck-forming means.